Ballymena United have performed better than Crusaders so far this season, but every game starts at 0-0. Here's all you need to know about the upcoming game:
- Ballymena United haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Crusaders have the most matches over the total-line (17) in Premiership
It's no vacation for neither Ballymena nor Crusaders as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Ballymena United form and stats
Ballymena United have played 14 Premiership games at their own stadium so far this season, resulting in 6-3-5 (wins-draws-losses). Ballymena United has a nice streak going on as they have played ten consecutive leaguegames without losing (regardless of home/away). They are keen to extend their tally, a streak that began after the Cliftonville defeat 37 days ago. Ballymena United has won so many consecutive home games (four in a row) that they struggle to remember the last time points were lost here at The Showgrounds. We remember; it was Larne.
Before that game, the 5-1 home victory against Dungannon Swifts.
Ballymena are believed to win this game, given a winning chance of about 70% by the bookmakers. We have checked our records for their performance in similar circumstances and found three matches and the win/draw/lost stats: Won zero, drew one and lost two.
The match schedule is unforgiving for Ballymena United as they have a new game in only four days, a Premiership match thankfully also at home. Glentoran are visiting.
The Ballymena fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 21 goals in 14 league matches. 17 goals have been conceded. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only 2 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 home matches.
Crusaders form and stats
The story so far for the visiting team on their Premiership travels is 5 wins, 2 draws and 7 defeats.
Prior to that match, the Crusaders manager S. Baxter faced defeat when travelling to Glentoran and losing 0-1.
Crusaders has another fixture away, a Premiership game, against Carrick Rangers in just four days. A tough schedule for the visitors!
Crusaders has displayed an ability to score goals in away matches in the league this season, 22 goals from 14 games. In the opposite end, Crusaders have conceded 21 goals in their away games.
Head 2 Head
The last H2H meeting was Crusaders - Ballymena 2-1, played this season. Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: three - one - six (Ballymena wins - draws - Crusaders wins). As for goals, six matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), four had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  P. McElroy 10 goals | S. McCartan 10 goals |  P. Heatley 7 goals |
Ballymena United missing players
Crusaders missing players
| Ballymena United | Crusaders | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 28 | 14 | 3 | Played | P | 4 | 14 | 28 |
| 13 | 6 | 0 | Won | W | 0 | 5 | 13 |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | Drew | D | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 9 | 5 | 1 | Lost | L | 4 | 7 | 12 |
| 44 | 21 | 2 | Scored | S | 2 | 22 | 47 |
| 30 | 17 | 4 | Conceded | C | 7 | 21 | 36 |
| 96% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 82% | 86% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 75% | 86% | 79% |
| 43% | 36% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 79% | 68% |
| 21% | 21% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 36% | 36% |
| 14% | 21% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 7% | 11% |
| 54% | 57% | 67% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 71% | 57% |
| 32% | 21% | 0% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 14% | 29% |
| 18% | 21% | 33% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 14% | 14% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 9.2 | 9.6 | 6.7 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 7 | 8.7 | 9.6 |
| 4.8 | 4.6 | 3.3 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 2.8 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| 33% | 33% | 20% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 18% | 39% | 39% |
- Ballymena United haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Crusaders have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
- Crusaders have the fewest matches under the total-line (9) in Premiership
- Crusaders have the most matches over the total-line (17) in Premiership
- Crusaders haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Linfield | 28 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 67 | 28 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 21 | 39 | 60 |
| 2 | Coleraine | 27 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 42 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 17 | 53 |
| 3 | Glentoran | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 45 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 15 | 23 | 48 |
| 4 | Ballymena United | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 44 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 13 | 14 | 45 |
| 5 | Larne | 27 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 42 | 28 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 45 |
| 6 | Cliftonville | 27 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 38 | 30 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 43 |
| 7 | Crusaders | 28 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 47 | 36 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 11 | 42 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 44 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 23 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 0 | 39 |
| 9 | Warrenpoint Town | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 27 | 45 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 30 | -18 | 26 |
| 10 | Portadown | 26 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 30 | 55 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 34 | -25 | 18 |
| 11 | Carrick Rangers | 27 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 26 | 65 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 34 | -39 | 17 |
| 12 | Dungannon Swifts | 27 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 17 | 61 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 29 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 32 | -44 | 15 |